• Paolo Ghia, Gisoo Barnes, Keri Yang, Constantine S Tam, Tadeusz Robak, Jennifer R Brown, Brad S Kahl, Tian Tian, Andy Szeto, Jason C Paik, and Mazyar Shadman.
• Division of Experimental Oncology, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2023 Nov 1; 39 (11): 150515111505-1511.

ObjectiveZanubrutinib is a highly selective, next-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In the phase 3 SEQUOIA trial (NCT03336333), treatment with zanubrutinib resulted in significantly improved progression-free survival compared to bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) in adult patients with treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) without del(17p). The current analysis compared the effects of zanubrutinib versus BR on patients' health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL).MethodsIn the SEQUOIA trial, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed at baseline and every 12 weeks (3 cycles) using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D-5L. Descriptive analyses were performed on all the questionnaires' scales and a mixed model for repeated measures was performed using the key QLQ-C30 endpoints of global health status/QoL (GHS/QoL), physical and role functioning, and symptoms of fatigue, pain, diarrhea, and nausea/vomiting at weeks 12 and 24.ResultsCompared with BR-treated patients, those in the zanubrutinib arm experienced greater improvements in HRQoL outcomes at both weeks 12 and 24. By week 24, mean change differences (95% confidence interval) between the arms were significant for GHS/QoL (4.9 [0.9, 9.0]), physical functioning (3.8 [0.8, 6.7]), diarrhea (-6.2 [-10.0, -2.5]), fatigue (-4.5 [-8.9, -0.1]), and nausea/vomiting (-4.5 [-8.9, -0.1]); role functioning (4.8 [-0.2, 9.7]) was marginally better in the zanubrutinib arm and there were no differences in pain symptoms (-0.4 [-4.3, 5.1]) between the arms.ConclusionsDuring the first 24 weeks of treatment, zanubrutinib was associated with better HRQoL outcomes in patients with treatment-naive CLL/SLL without del(17p) compared to BR.Trial RegistrationThe SEQUOIA trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov as SEQUOIA trial (NCT03336333).

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